Closing the mortgage to Open opportunities

Emsky123

Well its been a good week for me, Managed just 2 days NSD

Had some good news - Been arguing with Amex about a joining bonus, If you spend over £500 in the first 3 months you get 6000 points extra which gets you a £25 gift voucher, I had been emailing them since beginning of December because although i spend over £500 they have a cut off date before your statement date so at that point i was £13 short.

Even though twice when i contacted them the CS rep said i was due the bonus they then changed their minds and said i was short. Finally yesterday i called them and explained that the policy cannot be that clear as even there own staff were confused, After a while of checking with the relevant dept i was finally told that they were going to let me have the points - Result:j
I have just done my sums for the month as i was paid yesterday, After bills and getting up to date with christmas overspend (Argos interest free card) i have around £500 to OP, And if i can stick to a lower weekly food budget i should have another £100 later in the month.

Will update signature once payment has been sent.

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Hi Emsky - my first time of seeing your diary so I thought I'd drop in and say hi :wave:

I'm impressed with the way you've worked out you're on the best deals for everything. I'm just about there I think; still got to apply for my water meter and try to get a Butt for the garden. I have no idea how that will work but I'm sure I'll figure it out somehow!

Emsky123

Hi SSS , Thats one thing i had not thought about - a water meter, I suppose it's because the bill does not look that big each month compared to Gas/electric so i never thought about it. My mums got a water butt and its great, she is proud of her garden and even prouder that the water used is recycled.

I have been reading the Diary's on here for several years so its really down to all the great MFW's on here that i managed so much.

Its only really this year that i thought i could do so much more.

Emsky123

Went to the local pet shop today and found they sell the same dog food at the same price as the shop i buy from online - It means i can save the £4.50 delivery charge - woohoo.

Im getting ready to make my overpayment, just wondering if i should wait until next week as my credit card is due in 7 days and i have not yet got my expenses paid from work so i am worried that i will be left short in the meantime.

Target for this week is to have 5 NSD's and to Sell 2 items, Have already listed one in the Free papers this week and going to list another on Ebay later today once i find the lead for the Camera.

On a great note - My sister in law called yesterday to say she has a spare ticket to Mama Mia on Friday and asked if i wanted it as an early Birthday present - Yay, Just need to find a way of getting there cheeply - If i can sell one of my items it will hopefully cover the cost.

Emsky123

Yeeeee Ha, Just thought i would log into my bank to see if i could still make the OP and my expenses were paid in yesterday, I did not check as i presumed it would not go in on a Sat.

Going to try to cut down on the food budget and sell a few items to hopefully raise another £200 for another OP - Gosh this is so addictive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right off to sent in my Update to cake for the MFW11 challenge

Emsky123

1 NSD so far this week, It would have been 2 but i had a hospital appointment and had to pay for the Car park - GRRR So the grand total spend for Monday was £1, I even tried looking round the side roads but everyone else must have the same idea as they were all packed with no where to park.

Local paper is out tomorrow so im hoping to get some calls on my Adverts, If no response i will put them on Ebay.

Was in hopsital again yesterday for some more tests which turned out to be a minor Op so im at home today ,- At least i cant spend any money, The hospital was a bit better than the one on Monday as it had free parking for 20 mins so i got dropped off and picked up by my Mum so no money spent.

Also because i have been off work for two days i have saved some money in petrol - I sometimes wish i worked closer to home, It would be so nice to be able to walk to work - Its just another dream which could become reality if i had no mortgage.

Emsky123

:mad: Just got an email from Next saying i had defaulted on a payment. When i looked into it i had forgotton about a couple of items i had bought in the sales back in December which payment was due on 19.01, Im so annoyed as this is the first communication they sent, No reminder or anything. Im more annoyed at myself for forgetting about the bill as im normally so good and pay all bills as soon as i receive them.

They have charged me 0.84p but im more worried that it may affect my credit rating??

And the week was going so well with another NSD yesterday.

Emsky123

Went to see Mama Mia last night,It was really good and did not cost too much either, My SIL bought me the ticket for Christmas so all i had to pay for was the travel and snacks, I bought the snacks in my local shop as they were cheeper and we got a special travel card as we were going off peak, Total cost of the afternoon £12.

Weekly shopping done this morning, I checked the fridge/freezer before i went and knew i already had a pie and some chicken so 2 meals less to get. I bought almost everything on offer and only bought what i really needed, Had a total budget for the week of £75 but the shopping came to £35 so £40 Under budget:j

I find it easier as well to add up roughy as i go along as it helps me focus and stops me buying things i dont really need.

If i can keep this up i will have another £100ish to pay off the morgage before next payday ( I get paid a week before end of month)

Now i am back on full wages i have worked out my budget for the month:-

£300 (avg £75 per week) - Food shopping
£100 - Petrol, really resent paying this but work is 15 miles away and im not yet fit enough to cycle!
£100 emergencies

This leaves me around £400 spare so i will pay this straight to the morgage and if by the time i next get paid i have underspent on any of the above budgets this will also go to the Mortgage.

It feels a bit strange not to be topping up my savings but they are at a good level and would cover me in an emergancy so i feel that i dont need to contribute for the time being, Plus my mortgage is fixed at 4.69% till 2013 so it would be hard to get the same savings rate.

Now im off to take DS to the park, Free morning out:)

Emsky123

Sunday was lovely, OH took DS out for the morning and DD was asleep so i blitzed the house and got all the washing done and put away (a great achivement for me!) Afternoon was spent cooking the roast and because i did not go out it was another NSD. Final total for the week was 4 NSD's - Getting better

Was a loverly Sunny day - Cant wait for Spring and more Sunshine

Emsky123

going well so far this week, 2 NSD and its only Wednesday, Hope i can keep this up for the rest of the week.